MALALANE – On July 8 a disruptive operation was held by members of the Hawks Nelspruit Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Onderberg K9 Unit, CIG Covert Provincial and the MTPA on endangered species at 15:00 in town.

Two suspects, aged 26 and 29, were arrested for the illegal possession of an endangered species animal, a pangolin. It is currently the most poached animal species worldwide, according to News 24.

The animal was handed over to a Kruger National Park section ranger for release back into the park with permission from the MTPA. The two suspects will appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 11.